“You fucking bitches!” She screamed as the vein protruded from her neck and sweat poured from her brow. Her hair clung to her face as the shade of red ripped from her neck and splayed across her face. The rage she expressed as she tried tirelessly to free herself from her restraints was sad and painful to watch.

Bette grabbed a hold of her arm as Toni positioned her body to gain more control of her arm to administer the tranquillizer. As the potion was shot into her vein she cried out “No, No, No, please don’t… fuck!” she cried out as bawled over and rolled to the side falling away from Bette. The mixture took on an immediate effect and she closed her eyes as she was rendered unconscious. Bette was still sitting with her arms tightly wrapped around her body. She could feel the heat flow through her as she sat drenched in sweat with her clothes clinging to her seemingly lifeless body. As Bette sat and stared at the former shell that used to be her girlfriend, her heart broke. She noticed the marks on her wrists from the restraints, the track marks making themselves visible, her dry lips were cracked and close to bleeding, her body was badly bruised from thrashing and fighting her capturers. As she realized how deep this demon had reached her friend, it was then that she realized that Ali would never be the same girl she once was. That loving mother Melito deserved, the fun loving girl who loved to dance, who gave openly to her friends, the woman who taught Bette what it was to truly love another woman and have that love returned.

Bette was still staring at Ali when Toni came back into the room. Toni saw the hurt in eyes as her gaze went far beyond the physical form on the bed. “Jo, baby?” Toni called out to her. Nothing. “Jo, sweetie,” she said slightly shaking her shoulder “are you ok?”

Bette got up quickly and ran her hands through her hair “I’m fine.” she said avoiding the slight touch Toni tried to make with her. “She needs to get out of those wet clothes, they’re drenched in sweat” Bette hurriedly walked over to her bag and retrieved some new shorts and a tank top for Ali.